POSITION AND SHAPE OF NAIL-HOLES. 66^ 



We have remarked how important it is that the shoes 

 worn by horses should be as light as possible. It is 

 generally a most judicious plan, if a horse wears his shoes 

 more at one part than another, so that they do not last a 

 sufficient time, to weld in a small piece of steel at that 

 place, instead of thickening the shoe, and consequently 

 making it heavier. The latter method, which is that 

 generally adopted to save time, most frequently defeats its 

 purpose — the increased weight causing the animal to drag 

 his feet heavily along the ground, instead of lifting them 

 freely. . 



The position and shape of the nail-holes, as well as 

 their number, is the next point to be considered. The 

 shoe ought to be attached by nails to those parts of the 

 crust where the horn is strongest and toughest. In the 

 fore-foot these are in front and along the sides to the 

 quarters, where the horn becomes thin, and nails find less 

 support and are nearer to the living textures ; this is more 

 particularly the case towards the heel. 



In the hind-foot, the crust is generally strongest to- 

 wards the quarters and heels. These facts at once give us 

 an indication as to the position of the nail-holes. In the 

 fore-foot, nails can be driven through the crust around the 

 toe, as far as the inside quarter, and a trifle nearer the heel on 

 the outside. In the hind-foot, they can be driven around 

 the toe, and even up to the points of the heels, with im- 

 punity. 



The form of the nail-holes is of secondary import- 

 ance. The fullering or groove of the English shoe, 

 though artistic-looking, is a mistake ; it is a waste of 

 labour, weakens the shoe, and is of no service. The 



